Iowa’s Denali Loecker powers up to climb program’s all-time home run list

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s Denali Loecker isn’t consumed with statistics or records.

The less she knows about those numbers, the better. The junior will keep swinging away and let others focus on her climb up the Hawkeyes’ career home run list.

“I didn’t know but my dad definitely keeps track,” Loecker said with a laugh. “He’ll be texting me but I really don’t keep track of that.”

Loecker said she was unaware that she moved into a tie for seventh on Iowa’s all-time home run list with a two-run blast in the sixth inning of a 5-3 Big Ten Conference loss to Rutgers Friday at Pearl Field. She smacked her eighth home run of the season, giving her 22 in her Iowa career and tying Jessica Bashor (2000-03).

“It’s cool to know,” Loecker said. “I don’t really think about it because if I think about it, that’s when I start thinking too much and trying too hard. Just to keep it simple is the best for me.”

Power has been her forte since hitting 67 home runs as a three-time first-team all-state performer at Ogden. Loecker said the transition to college pitchers and their movement was a challenge. She has continued to improve her approach.

“Her best at-bats are ones where she’s patient and she’s forcing them to throw her pitch,” Iowa Coach Renee Gillispie said. “When she’s patient at the plate, she forces them to come in on her and be able to get the pitch that she wants she is very effective.”

A physical component has factored in her success. Loecker said she has always had the brawn and explosiveness. She has generated more power from her legs when she hits.

“Being confident I think is the biggest key,” Loecker said. “I know the power is there. We have a great strength and conditioning program here. It’s made me even stronger. When I connect on a ball, if I hit it solid, I know it’s going to go.”

Nestled in the heart of Iowa’s order, Loecker has provided a punch for the Hawkeyes. As a freshman, she hit four home runs. Loecker connected on 10 home runs a year ago, which is the second-highest single-season total in program history. Now, she is approaching double-digits again, leading Iowa and accounting for almost half of the team’s 19 long balls.

Loecker also has a team-high 35 RBIs, driving in all three runs against Rutgers.

“She does an incredible job of being able to come in and spark the team,” Gillispie said. “With the home run she hit today (Friday), she’s been doing that all season long.

“She’s starting to see the ball well. We hope to get more of that out of her.”

Loecker gained some confidence with a sacrifice fly that scored Brylee Klosternan and put Iowa on the board in the third. She followed it by belting a 1-0 offering over the center-field wall. Loecker knew she barreled up the pitch immediately.

“It felt really good,” Loecker said. “I kind of went down in a slump a little bit, so it’s nice to get that back under my belt,” Loecker said. “I know I can. It’s just the fact that I didn’t get it for a while. So, just to get back on that grind of hitting the ball hard and putting it in play. It helps out the team a lot.”

The 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman selection and second-team all-conference player serves multiple roles for the Hawkeyes (28-22, 8-10). In addition to her prowess at the plate, she is a regular in the pitcher’s circle, tossing 4 2/3 innings of relief. She has made 23 appearances with a 2-1 record and six saves.

Gillispie said Loecker also played first base when she wasn’t pitching or hitting as a designated player. They scaled back the workload to hitting and pitching, even though Loecker would do anything asked.

“She’s so versatile,” Gillispie said. “We can use her anywhere. Anytime we need a big hit we know that she can change the course of the game.”